Computerized information collection and training method and apparatus

ABSTRACT

A method of improving car steering performance is disclosed. The method comprises modifying the size of the flow path for supply of hydraulic fluid from a pump to a steering unit so that the flow path is of a size greater than the size prior to modification. The modification can be made by increasing the size of a bore ( 61 ) of a bolt ( 63 ) forming a restriction ( 45 ) in the pump or by modifying a fitting ( 47 ) to increase fluid flow through the fitting ( 47 ).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for enhancing carperformance and, in particular, to reducing problems associated withperformance due to hydraulic power steering systems used in cars. Forthe purpose of this specification, the word “car” or “cars” meanspassenger cars and passenger 4-wheel drive vehicles for transportingpeople.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many cars from various problems under particular driving conditions,which include general rough ride, vibration and shuddering on roughroads, steering feedback, pulling consistently in one direction,understeer while cornering, heavy excessive tyre wear, heaving steering,wander across the road and the need for constant steering correctionswhilst the car is being driven.

These problems can make it difficult to drive a car and, in particular,in some conditions, which can result in driver fatigue, accident andalso significant wear on tyres and other steering components.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present inventor has found that the above problems relate directlyto hydraulic steering systems and, in particular, to the amount ofhydraulic fluid which is able to flow to a steering box to controlsteering. In particular, it has been found that the forces created onthe steering box when a steering change is made by rotating a steeringwheel and which are provided by hydraulic fluid, is often insufficientto counteract forces on the car wheels caused by travel of the car overthe terrain on which the vehicle is driving. This in turn can result ingreater momentary forces being applied to the wheels by the terrain thanby the hydraulic fluid. Thus, although the car does turn in response tomovement of the steering wheel and the application of hydraulic fluid tothe steering box, the momentary forces cause feedback into the steeringsystem which create the rough ride, vibration and shuddering and theother problems referred to above.

The present inventor has found that by increasing the amount of fluidwhich can be supplied to the steering box, the above problems aregreatly reduced, if not eliminated altogether, thereby providing muchbetter car steering performance, less wear on steering components andtyres and therefore greater driving satisfaction from the point of viewof comfort and safety, and also in relation to the need for maintenanceof the steering system.

Thus, the present invention is based on the concept of increasing theamount of hydraulic fluid which is supplied to the steering box duringoperation of the vehicle.

The invention in a first aspect provides a method of improving carperformance of a car which has a hydraulic power steering systemcomprising a hydraulic fluid reservoir, a pump for pumping hydraulicfluid from the reservoir and a steering unit operably connected to amechanical steering system and to be activated by supply of hydraulicfluid by the pump to the unit, the hydraulic power steering systemhaving a flow path for supply of hydraulic fluid by the pump to the unitof a first size which is provided at manufacture of the steering system,said method comprising:

-   -   modifying the size of the flow path for the supply of hydraulic        fluid from the pump to the unit so that the flow path is of a        size greater than the said first size so as to increase the        amount of flow of fluid to the steering unit compared to that        which occurs with the flow path having the said first size to        thereby improve steering performance of the car.

Since the flow path is of increased size, the amount of fluid whichflows to the steering unit is increased, thereby creating greater forceto maintain the wheels in position, as set by rotation of the steeringwheel so that the force created by contact of the wheels over terraindoes not overcome the force created by the hydraulic fluid and thereforemaintains the wheels in their correct orientation. This thereforereduces all of the problems referred to above, thereby greatly improvingcar performance.

In one embodiment the step of modifying the flow path comprises changinga component of the flow path to increase the size of the flow path.

In another embodiment the step of modifying the size of the flow pathcomprises altering a component of the flow path to increase the size ofthe flow path.

Thus, the flow path can be altered by either removing an old part andinserting a new part, or by altering an existing part, such as byenlarging orifice sizes or the like to increase the size of the flowpath.

Preferably the steering system includes a fitting having a bore and/oroutlet orifice for allowing fluid to flow through the fitting, thefitting being located in the pump or on the pump, and the step ofmodifying comprises enlarging the bore and/or orifice.

In one embodiment the fitting is a banjo fitting on the pump.

In another embodiment the fitting is an oil flow restriction in thepump.

Again, this modification can taken place by altering the bore size ororifice by increasing the bore size or orifice size of the fitting orcompletely replacing the fitting with a fitting having a larger boresize or orifice size.

The invention also provides a method of enhancing steering performanceof a car which has a hydraulic power steering system comprising ahydraulic fluid reservoir, a pump for pumping hydraulic fluid from thereservoir and a steering unit operably connected to a mechanicalsteering system and to be activated by supply of hydraulic fluid by thepump to the unit, the hydraulic power steering system having a flow pathfor supply of hydraulic fluid by the pump to the unit, said methodcomprising:

-   -   increasing the size of the flow path for the supply of hydraulic        fluid from the pump to the unit.

In one embodiment the step of increasing the size of the flow pathcomprises changing a component of the flow path to increase the size ofthe flow path.

In another embodiment the step of increasing the size of the flow pathcomprises altering a component of the flow path to increase the size ofthe flow path.

Preferably the steering system includes a fitting having a bore and/oroutlet orifice for allowing fluid to flow through the fitting, thefitting being located in the pump or on the pump, and the step ofmodifying comprises enlarging the bore and/or orifice.

The invention also provides a car hydraulic power steering systemcomprising:

-   -   a hydraulic fluid reservoir;    -   a steering unit coupled to a mechanical actuating part of a        mechanical steering system for control by rotation of a steering        wheel to turn wheels of the car;    -   a pump for pumping hydraulic fluid from the reservoir to the        steering unit;    -   a pressure supply conduit between the pump and the steering unit        for the supply of fluid pumped by the pump from the reservoir to        the steering unit;    -   a return conduit for supplying hydraulic fluid from the steering        unit to the reservoir; and    -   wherein the pump, supply conduit and steering unit define a flow        path having a size which is set to supply hydraulic fluid to the        steering unit so as to substantially eliminate one or more of        the following unwanted conditions:    -   (a) erratic deviations from a steered path;    -   (b) excessive feedback to the steering wheel caused by road        unevenness;    -   (c) excessive understeer by cornering;    -   (d) excessive heavy steering;    -   (e) excessive slow response of power assist of the steering        system;    -   (f) excessive tyre wear;    -   (g) cabin noise and vibration or shudder;    -   (h) rough ride on uneven surfaces.

In one embodiment the size of the flow path before increasing the sizehas a minimum cross-sectional dimension of 4 to 8 mm and the size isincreased by an amount in the range of 0.3 to 0.7 mm.

Most preferably the increase is 0.5 mm.

In terms of percentage preferably the change in the size of the flowpath is produced by changing a fitting of the flow path so the minimumcross-sectional area of the flow path provided by that fitting isincreased in size from 3 to 15% and most preferably about 5 to 10%.

In the preferred embodiment the fitting which is altered comprises afitting in or attached to the pump. In the case of a passenger 4-wheeldrive, the fitting comprises a banjo fitting and the fitting includes acentral bore and at least one outlet orifice arranged transverse to thecentral bore for supplying fluid to the supply line, and preferably theoutlet orifice is increased in size. The banjo fitting may include twoor four outlet orifices.

In the case of a passenger car, the fitting is an internal restrictionwithin the pump, the fitting having a central bore and the size of thecentral bore is increased to provide the increase in fluid flow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the invention will be described, by way ofexample, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a passenger car steering system accordingto the preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a steering system for a 4-wheel drive;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a fitting used in the embodiment ofFIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a fitting used in the embodiment ofFIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows in semi-schematic form a hydraulic circuit of ahydraulically operated power steering system 1 for passenger cars. Froma reservoir 2, hydraulic fluid is drawn into an engine-driven pump 3 viaa supply line 35. The pump 3 is of fixed-displacement type, and istypically of the sliding-vane type that is well known in the art.

From the pump 3, hydraulic fluid is delivered through a pressure line 4to a power steering unit 5. A return line 40 from pump 3 is provided toreturn fluid to reservoir 2 in the event of an integral relief valve(not shown) in pump 3 being opened.

The unit 5 has an input shaft 6 which is coupled via a coupling 7 toshaft 8 of a steering wheel 9 of the passenger car (not shown). Thepurpose of the unit 5 is to cause rotation of a pitman arm 10 inresponse to inputs from the steering wheel 9, with torque applied to thesteering wheel 9 being magnified hydraulically. The pitman arm 10 isconnected to other mechanical components (not shown) which in turn steerroad wheels (not shown) of the car in a known manner. A line 11 isprovided to return hydraulic fluid from the steering unit 5 to thereservoir 2.

System 1 is simplified and illustrative only, as many variations occurin practice.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a steering system of a passenger4-wheel drive. In FIG. 2, much of the componentry is the same as FIG. 1.Only the pump 3 is shown and the supply line 4. The pump 3 receives abanjo bolt 47 which is shown in more detail in FIG. 4. Oil supplied fromthe pump 3 flows through bore 49 of the banjo bolt out of outletorifices 51 and into supply line 4.

Returning to FIG. 1, oil is supplied from pump 3 to supply line 4 via athreaded oil flow restriction 45 which may also be in the form of aninternal bolt or fitting, as shown in FIG. 3. The restriction 60 isprovided with a central bore 61 which passes through shaft 63 of thefitting and also through head 64.

Typically, the diameter of the bore 61 prior to modification is anywherefrom 0.75 mm to 2.5 mm.

In order to improve steering performance, the bore 61 is enlarged by 0.2mm to 0.6 mm and most preferably by an amount of 0.4 mm to 0.5 mm. Thus,the minimum cross-sectional flow area of the flow passage from the pump3 to the steering box 5 is set by the size of the bore 61 and ispreferably increased in the range of 30% to 190%, and most preferably44% to 176%.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the banjo bolt 47 of FIG. 2. As isapparent from FIG. 4, the banjo bolt has a central bore 49 in stem 71and a solid head 73. Two outlet orifices 75 and 76 supply oil from thepump into the supply line 4. In some embodiments, two orifices 75 and 76are provided and in others (not shown), four orifices can be provided bydrilling a further bore perpendicular to the inlet bore 46 and theorifices 76 and 75.

In the case of two orifices 75 and 76, the size of the orifices areincreased in diameter by 0.5 mm and if four orifices are provided, eachorifice is increased by 0.25 mm.

Since modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention mayreadily be effected by persons skilled within the art, it is to beunderstood that this invention is not limited to the particularembodiment described by way of example hereinabove.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of theinvention, except where the context requires otherwise due to expresslanguage or necessary implication, the word “comprise”, or variationssuch as “comprises” or “comprising”, is used in an inclusive sense, i.e.to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude thepresence or addition of further features in various embodiments of theinvention.

1-45. (canceled)
 46. Apparatus for collecting information relating to anobservable scene or scenes, said apparatus comprising computingapparatus, image capturing means for capturing an image or images ofsaid scene or scenes, means for recording in said computing apparatusimage data relating to said image or images captured by said imagecapturing means, location sensing means for providing location datarelating to said captured images, means for recording in said computingapparatus said location data from said location sensing means, saidlocation data being synchronized with said recorded image data, andinput means for external input of information relating to said imagedata and/or said location data for recording in said computingapparatus.
 47. Apparatus as claimed in claim 46 wherein said imagingcapturing means and location sensing means are located in or on avehicle from which said image and location data are captured andrecorded.
 48. Apparatus as claimed in claim 46 wherein said computingapparatus includes image display means adapted to display a table orform into which information may be inserted using said input means forstorage in said table or form.
 49. Apparatus as claimed in claim 46wherein said input means comprising one or more of a stylus, touchscreen, computer mouse, trackball, smart pen for use with smart paper,keyboard, keypad, a microphone associated with voice recognitionsoftware, a game pad or a joystick.
 50. Apparatus as claimed in claim 46wherein said image data comprises video image data and/or still imagedata captured using one or more of a camera, a web cam, a separatelyrecorded camcorder video, a PDA camera, time and/or location stampedstill camera, or cell phone camera.
 51. Apparatus as claimed in claim 46wherein said location data comprises geographical data derived from oneor more of a GPS positioning system, European Satellite NavigationSystem (GALILEO), Russian Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS),radio beacon based location technologies (802.11, Bluetooth, GSM),micro-location sensors or from an RF ID tag.
 52. Apparatus as claimed inclaim 47 and used for assessing a driver of a motor vehicle duringoperation of said vehicle by said driver and wherein said observablescene or scenes comprise views of said driver and/or views from saidvehicle, said image capturing means being adapted to capture image datarelating to operation of said vehicle by said driver, said locationsensing means being adapted to obtain location data of said vehicle, andwherein said input means is adapted to receive input of data from anobserver during and relating to operation of said vehicle by saiddriver.
 53. Apparatus as claimed in claim 52 wherein said computingapparatus includes means for analyzing said data and for providing oneor more reports relating to operation of the vehicle by said driverbased on said data.
 54. Apparatus as claimed in claim 52 wherein saidimage data comprises captured image data as recorded by one or morevideo cameras showing a particular vehicle route traveled by a vehicleand/or the vehicle operator and wherein said location data is derivedfrom a GPS sensor used to sense geographical location of the vehicle.55. Apparatus as claimed in claim 52 and including means for monitoringand recording further data relating to operational parameters of avehicle, said monitored vehicle parameters comprise one or more of thefollowing: Pattern Recognition (position of the vehicle on a road orwithin a lane on a road). Object Tracking (distance to other vehicles).Vehicle inertia (to measure vehicle acceleration, deceleration andvehicle body movement as in cornering and stopping). Accelerator use.Brake use. Indicator use. Engine RPM. Fuel use. Driver face/eyemovement.
 56. Apparatus as claimed in claim 52 wherein said input dataprovided by the observer is input under predetermined categories intothe computing apparatus on a displayed form or table, said predeterminedcategories relating to the vehicle operation and/or the vehicle driver.57. A method of collecting information relating to an observable sceneor scenes, said method comprising the steps of: capturing and recordingin computing apparatus, image data relating to said scene or scenes,recording in said computer apparatus, location data corresponding tosaid image data, said location data being synchronised with saidrecorded image data, and recording in said computing apparatus, externalinformation relating to said recorded image and/or location data.
 58. Amethod as claimed in claim 57 and used for assessing a driver of a motorvehicle during operation of said vehicle by said driver, said observablescene or scenes comprises views of said driver and/or views from saidvehicle and wherein said image data and location data relate tooperation of said vehicle by said driver, and wherein said externalinformation recorded in said computing apparatus relating to saidrecorded image and/or location data comprises input data from anobserver during and relating to operation of said vehicle by saiddriver.
 59. A method as claimed in claim 57 and used for assessing anoperator of machinery or equipment during operation of said machinery orequipment by said operator, and wherein said step of capturing andrecording said image data and location data comprises the step ofcapturing data relating to operation of said machinery or equipment bysaid operator, and wherein said step of recording said externalinformation comprises the step of recording input data from an observerduring and relating to operation of said machinery or equipment by saidoperator, and comprising the further step of analyzing said data andproviding a report or reports of operation of said machinery orequipment by said operator based on said analysed data.
 60. Apparatus asclaimed in claim 46 and used for assessing an operator of a machinery orequipment, and wherein said observable scene or scenes comprise imagedata relating to operation of said machinery or equipment by saidoperator, said location sensing means being adapted to obtaininglocation data relating to operation of said machinery or equipment bysaid operator, and wherein said input means is adapted to receive inputdata from an observer during and relating to operation of said machineryor equipment by said operator.
 61. Apparatus as claimed in claim 60wherein said computing apparatus includes means for analyzing said dataand for providing one or more reports relating to operation of saidmachinery or equipment by the operator based on the data.
 62. Apparatusfor preparing a computer-base route training or identification programin relation to a route to be undertaken by a vehicle operator, saidapparatus comprising computing apparatus, image capturing means forcapturing image data relating to said route, location sensing means forobtaining location data relating to said route, said computing apparatusbeing adapted to receive and store said image data and location data,said location data being synchronized with said image data, and inputmeans associated with said computing apparatus for receiving externalinput of data from an observer relating to said route to enablecompiling of a computer-based training program based on said data. 63.Apparatus as claimed in claim 62 wherein said image capturing meanscomprise a plurality of cameras mounted to the vehicle for capturingvideo image data providing different images of said training route. 64.Apparatus as claimed in any claim 63 and including means for capturingand recording further data relating to the vehicle, said further datacomprising one or more of data from engine interfaces, followingdistance sensors and inertial sensors.
 65. Apparatus as claimed in claim63 and including means for displaying said image data and location dataon a map a display screen of said computing apparatus.